The recent passing of the great Malvern and Trinidad footballer Carlton "Putty" Lewis yesterday brought back cherished memories to two of his contemporaries-his namesake Carlton "Squeaky" Hinds and Shay Seymour.
Lewis' death had come came as a shock to Seymour. "Putty", the outstanding right winger, was buried in New York, USA, last Friday.
Seymour said he had just returned from his usual afternoon walk when he heard that his "old friend" had passed away. This was a week ago at the Methodist Hospital in New York following a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 78.
"It's was a real shocker," exclaimed Seymour, as he vividly recalled the historic 1953 tour by the Trinidad and Tobago football team to the United Kingdom.
"We roomed together and we would stay up and talk football well into the night. He was a few years older than me and I remember he once asked me to tell him the secret of my ability to score so easily," related Seymour.
Seymour also recalled that Lewis was one of the favourites on the team, a prolific scorer, who played in almost every match on tour.
Dubbed the "Woodbrook Glamour Boys", most of the Malvern players were extremely popular back in the 1940s and '50s and the name "Putty" Lewis was a household one.
"Oh, he was a terrific player, easily one of the best right wingers ever," said Shay.
Lewis migrated to the United States some 40 years, but he returned home regularly to greet old friends around the Carnival season.
Seymour described his late friend as very sociable, a man who enjoyed the occasional drink. "His passing is a great loss to the world of football," he said.
A similar view was held by "Squeaky" Hinds, who, unlike Seymour, was not too surprised at Lewis's passing.
"I knew he was battling Alzheimer's for some time. I saw him two years ago and he barely recognised me. It was very, very sad," Hinds said.
Hinds, one of the foundation members of Malvern, along with journalist George John, retired Editor of the Trinidad Express Newspapers, described Lewis as a "very explosive player".
"He was not a dribbler...very fast and he made it look so easy. He was also a powerful kicker with both feet."
Lewis is survived by his four children-Carlton, Keith, Carla and Karen.
The name "Putty" Lewis will no doubt be heard again this Sunday at the annual Maple reunion at Professor Courtenay Bartholomew's Trinidad Crescent residence.